What is metagaming? Meaning and why it is bad
Metagaming means using knowledge from outside the game to make decisions inside it: reading the adventure module, using information from a stream or chat, or acting on something only you, the player, know, not your character. In tabletop games and online roleplay it is considered bad because it breaks immersion, gives an unfair edge and makes other players' choices feel pointless.
Note that "the meta" in competitive games is a different idea. There it means the most effective strategies at the moment, and following it is normal, not cheating.
Common examples of metagaming
- A character suddenly knows a monster's weakness because the player read the creature's stats.
- On an online roleplay server, a character finds another player using information seen on a livestream or in Discord (see metagaming in RP and FiveM for server-specific examples).
- A player avoids a trap only because they overheard the game master discussing it.
- A character acts on a conversation they were not present for.
Why groups treat it as a problem
- Fairness: it gives one player an advantage that the others did not earn in the story.
- Immersion: the world stops feeling real when characters know things they should not.
- Story: surprises, mysteries and betrayals stop working.
On many roleplay servers metagaming is an explicit rule violation that can lead to warnings or bans.
How to avoid or handle it
- Before acting, ask: "How would my character know this?"
- Keep out-of-character talk clearly marked, for example in separate channels.
- As a game master, talk to the player privately first; often it is accidental.
- Hide information that players do not need, and reward good in-character decisions.
FAQ
Is metagaming cheating?
Not in the technical sense, but in roleplay it breaks the shared rules of the game, so many groups and servers treat it like a rule violation.
What does metagame mean?
A metagame is the "game around the game": the strategies and knowledge that exist outside the rules themselves, such as which builds or characters are strongest right now. In competitive gaming this is usually just called "the meta."
What is the opposite of the meta in competitive games?
Off-meta play: choosing strategies, characters or builds that are not considered the strongest at the moment.
Where does the word metagaming come from?
From the Greek prefix "meta," meaning beyond or about: metagaming is thinking about the game from outside it. Only the roleplay sense, using knowledge your character shouldn't have, is frowned upon.